Unraveling Fiasco

His credibility under fire, Reagan admits sending arms to Iran

For once, Ronald Reagan did not want to give a speech. For nearly two weeks, the Administration had tried to bottle up stories about U.S. dealings with -- and arms shipments to -- Iran. When two top aides got into a sharp dispute in his presence, Reagan sided with National Security Adviser John Poindexter, who counseled continued secrecy. But the story refused to die, and so the President belatedly followed White House Chief of Staff Donald Regan's advice that he at least brief congressional leaders. The blistering criticism continued, and a press conference on Wednesday by Said Rajaie-Khorassani, Iran's Ambassador to...

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